February 8, 2010

This week’s postcard was sent to Mrs. E. P. Bejot in Ainsworth, Nebraska on June 23, 1959.

The postcard reads:

Bellingrath Gardens, Mobile, Ala.

Fountain and Courtyard, looking toward the Isle-Au-Oies River along one of the picturesque flagstone walks.

Pub. by Deep South Specialties, Inc., P.O. Box 1802, Jackson, Miss.

Color photo by WM. W. Lavendar

The letter to Mrs. Bejot reads:

Henrie has a 3 Day Pass, so we drove over here this a.m. to visit some of the interesting places. Went thru these 60 acres of Bellingrath Gardens this afternoon – really fabulous. Stopped at Pensacola as they came over, went thru old J. R. Pickens, etc. – will go back tomorrow. Is pretty hot here now but am so thankful for air conditioners – have a good one in motel where we are staying tonite. Hope all are well.

Love, Pearle

Pearle sent many postcards to Mrs. Bejot over the years and this one is beautiful. She must have been a devoted friend/daughter/sister. However they were related, Mrs. Bejot saved Pearle’s postcards with care.

February 1, 2010

This week’s postcard was sent to Mrs. Eugene Bejot in Ainsworth, Nebraska on October 1963.

The postcard reads:

Logging Truck

One of the most thrilling sights in the West is these large diesel trucks hauling logs on mountain roads.

The letter to Mrs. Bejot reads:

Wed a.m.

Hi: Wish you were here! It has been warm and sunny. Watched the bowling games last nite. Melvin plays. Gail will be 13 tomorrow and we are going to her b.d. party Thurs eve. Mildred and I have just been to the store, they do have such nice grocery stores here and close enough to walk to. Will be leaving Seattle at 8 am Sunday.

Bye now, Maude

The postmark is from Everett Washington, which is a small town north of Seattle.

January 27, 2010

This week’s postcard was sent to Mrs. E. P. Bejot in Ainsworth, Nebraska on July 11, 1962.

The postcard reads:

Seattle World’s Fair from Queen Ann

Color photo by Mike Roberts

The letter to Mrs. Bejot reads:

Dear Grace,

I hope all is well with you but I know it’s a big worry with Gene sick. I went to the fair one day and want to go again. Was clear up on top of the tall Space Needle. Wonderful views up there. Nearly 4 million folks have been there all ready. Is not expensive as was rumored. I’ll write soon.

Love, Calla L.

The Space Needle has become Seattle’s most recognizable landmark, but it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. You can find out more here:

The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World’s Fair) was a World’s Fair held April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962 in Seattle, Washington, USA.[1][2] Nearly ten million people attended the fair.[3] Unlike some other World’s Fairs of its era, Century 21 ran a profit.[3]

As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle’s economic and cultural life (see History of Seattle since 1940).[4] The fair saw the construction of the Space Needle and Alweg monorail, as well as several sports venues and performing arts buildings (most of which have since been replaced or heavily remodeled). The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is now called Seattle Center; the United States Science Pavilion is now the Pacific Science Center. Another notable Seattle Center building, the Experience Music Project, was deliberately designed to fit in with the fairground atmosphere, but was built nearly 40 years later.

From the top of the Needle, one can see not only the Downtown Seattle skyline, but also the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands. Photographs of the Seattle skyline often show the Space Needle in a prominent position, even appearing to tower above the rest of the city’s skyscrapers, as well as Mount Rainier in the background. This occurs because the tower, which is equivalent in height to a 60-story building, stands roughly four-fifths of a mile (1.3 km) northwest of most downtown skyscrapers.

December 30, 2009

This week’s postcard was sent to Mrs. Natalie Donovan in Cleveland, Ohio on October 23, 1943.

The postcard reads:

Looking down Logan Canyon, near Ogden and Logan, Utah

Only a few minutes from the business center of Ogden, this canyon is one of the main scenic attractions of Utah. Fully paved, it affords a beautiful route to Snow Basin and Monte Christo parks in the recreational area.

December 23, 2009

This postcard was sent from Birmingham, Alabama to Mrs. E. P. Bejot back on March 5, 1958.

The postcard reads:

VULCAN – GOD OF METALS. This Gigantic Statue, the largest cast figure in the world, is located in Vulcan Park atop Red Mountain overlooking Birmingham, AL. The Statue is made of Birmingham iron and stands 55 feet from foot to outstretched arm and weights a total of 100 tons. The head alone weighs 6 tons, its foot 5 tons and the thumb 170 pounds. It is mounted on a base 124 feet high made of Red Mountain Limestone quarried from the mountain on which it stands. The total height of the base and statue is 179 feet. The statue was sculptured by G. Moretti and cast in Birmingham in 1903 from iron ore taken from Red Mountain and was sent to St. Louis in 1904 for exhibit during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Upon its return it was placed in the Fair Grounds where it remained until 1935, at which time through the work and co-operation of the Birmingham Kiwanis and the City Commission it was placed atop Red Mountain where it stands today, a symbol to the Magic City, Steel Center of the South. VULCAN holds a torch in his uplifted hand which burns green when there is no traffic fatality in metropolitan Birmingham and burns red for 24 hours when a traffic fatality occurs.

The letter to Mrs. E. P. Bejot reads:

Mon. 11 am

We are on our way home from Decatur, Alabama. 90 miles north of here. Came up Sat. and had a grand visit with Lois and John Skuba. Harry came with us. We have a little one. 300 miles to go yet. Wonderful country up here – different from any we’ve been yet. Hope you are all fine.

Pearle

Heince took pictures of this state.

Lois and John were so glad to see us as they are far from home – don’t get to see many friends from very often.

Vulcan is STILL the largest cast iron statue in the world and it is still in Vulcan Park in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1999, it was in a state of disrepair and a huge renovation project took five years to restore it. You can find out more information here:

October 25, 2007

Jared, our friend, is only four years old, but he has been diligently practicing his writing. He sent us this postcard last month and we were delighted!

Here’s the front:

Here’s the back:

The postcard reads:

Timpanogos Cave National Monument Utah: A column guards the entrance to a lighted alove against the greenish flowstone and drapery-covered wall of the Big Room in Middle Cave. Photographer – William Hendricks

They write:

Dear Laura and Mike,

I opened the door to the cave.

Love, Jared

Please send me a postcard from your travels or your hometown. If you do and it’s interesting, I will publish your postcard on Starling Travel.

August 3, 2007

We didn’t realize how many postcards were waiting for us in our P.O. Box, so when we went to Yellowstone, we sent one to ourselves. Plus, we love Mammoth Hot Springs so much!

Here’s the front:

Here’s the back:

The postcard reads:

Yellowstone National Park
Minerva Terrace
Minerva Terrace, with its colorful variety of delicately crusted pools and runoffs is one of the major terrace attractions at Mammoth Hot Springs of Yellowstone National Park. Dictated by the different water temperatures, the algae that thrive there give the terraces their color. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and fine restaurant stand one third of a mile away.

Mike wrote:

Mammoth Hot Springs looks like an alien landscape!

We actually prefer Canary Hot Springs because it’s more active than Minerva Terrace right now, but there were no postcards for Canary Hot Springs.

Please send me a postcard from your travels or your hometown. If you do and it’s interesting, I will publish your postcard on Starling Travel.